In a report issued by the New York City Department of Investigation, a fatal elevator accident which occurred on Christmas Eve of 2015 was entirely preventable as the New York City Housing Authority knew of the defective elevator and did nothing about it. Furthermore, an important safety device was disconnected for no apparent reason. As reported in the New York Daily News, this fatal accident was caused by both specific and systemic flaws in elevator maintenance by the New York City Housing Authority.
People who live and work in New York City rely on elevators on a daily basis. They expect those elevators to be installed and maintained in a safe manner. Additionally, elevators themselves are equipped with multiple and redundant safety feature to prevent or minimize elevator accidents.
Elevator owners and operators have a legal obligation to properly maintain equipment and have elevators regularly inspected and serviced. Moreover, all elevators in New York City must be inspected by the Building Department and a private inspection agency on a regular basis.
It is imperative that an attorney familiar with the mechanics of an elevator be retained as elevator accident cases are very complex and require a skilled attorney. In addition, any attorney handling these cases must be familiar with the detailed and extensive laws which govern elevators on a City, State and Federal level.
If you or someone you love has suffered an injury in an elevator accident, you may be entitled to compensation. For a free consultation with our New York personal injury attorneys, please call (212) 406-1700 or contact us on-line. Our cases are taken on a contingency-fee basis. If we accept your case, there is no fee unless we recover damages for you.
